Toyota recalls 1.3 million vehicles for air bags, wipers

David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau

Posted:
02/02/2013 12:04:13 AM MST

Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it is recalling 1.3 million vehicles worldwide -- including more than 1.1 million in the United States -- the latest big recall for the automaker that has led in recalls in three of the last four years.

The recall covers about 900,000 Corolla and Corolla Matrix models worldwide for potentially faulty airbags and 385,000 Lexus IS cars for defective wipers.

The recall covers 752,000 2003-04 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles in the United States and approximately 270,000 2006-12 Lexus IS vehicles.

Toyota also said General Motors is recalling 135,000 Pontiac Vibes that were built at a now-shuttered joint assembly plant in California that had the same defective airbag chip.

The investigation began in August 2012 when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asked other automakers for information on airbag malfunctions using the same chip that was used in Chrysler Jeep Liberty SUVs that were under investigation.

Toyota said the airbag control module for the supplemental restraint system in the Corolla and Corolla Matrix may have circuits that are susceptible to internal shorting. These could experience an internal short that creates abnormal current flow and increased heat and lead to the front airbags and seat belt pretensioners inadvertently deploying.

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The second safety recall involves the front wipers on certain Lexus IS vehicles where the wiper arm nut might not be sufficiently tight. If movement of the wipers is restricted by an external load, such as a buildup of heavy snow on the windshield, one or both of the wipers could become inoperative.

Toyota said it first had a report of an inoperative wiper in May 2008, but said despite more reports "there was no clear trend and the failure rate was very low." Toyota adjusted its assembly process in July 2009 and then in July 2011 switched the wiper arm nut assembly for one used with other Toyota and Lexus models -- but the company didn't opt to recall the vehicles until it investigated for another 18 months.

Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons said there are 47 reports of improper airbag deployments, 18 injuries and two crashes and 25 reports of problems related to the windshield wipers.

Last month, Toyota said it would pay more than $1 billion to settle lawsuits stemming from its recall of more than 14 million vehicles for sudden acceleration issues and agreed to pay a record-setting $17.35 million U.S. fine for delaying the recall of 154,000 Lexus SUVs over pedal entrapment issues.

"We believe we've turned the page," said Bob Carter, senior vice president for automotive operations at Toyota Motor Sales USA in an interview earlier this month. "There will always be some litigation -- all major corporations have that -- but with the settlement and the latest fine, we've turned the page and are moving on."

Toyota also promised that it will make significant changes in how it responds to safety issues.

In a significant blow to the Japanese automaker, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration imposed the largest fine in U.S. history for a single recall campaign over the June call-back of 154,000 2010 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h vehicles.

The fine, and stiff government conditions that Toyota agree to monthly meetings and significant internal reforms, are dramatic setbacks for the automaker that had vowed to work more closely with U.S. safety officials.

It's the fourth time since 2010 that Toyota has paid the maximum allowable fine for delaying recalls. In 2010, Toyota paid $48.8 million in civil penalties for failing to recall millions of vehicles, in three separate campaigns, in a timely manner. Toyota said it will restructure its organization to consolidate responsibility for quality assurance and review of safety-related issues in the United States. It did not admit any wrongdoing.

Toyota also agreed to meet with NHTSA monthly for six months to report on all "alleged floor mat pedal entrapment issues in vehicles manufactured by Toyota, as well as any other actual or potential safety-related defect issue." NHTSA may extend Toyota's monthly meetings for an additional six months.

This is the latest in a series of recall setbacks for Toyota. In October, Toyota recalled 7.43 million vehicles worldwide, including 2.5 million in the United States over faulty power window switches. It was the largest single recall in the company's history.

The new fine is still a small fraction of the automaker's global profits, expected to total $9.7 billion for its fiscal year that ends in March. But could dent Toyota's reputation for quality -- an image it has been working to restore.

Toyota, which has recovered from supply disruptions linked to natural disasters in Asia in 2011, reclaimed the mantle of world's largest automaker for 2012.

Toyota paid the maximum statutory fine in the three earlier recall probes by NHTSA. Fines increase yearly to account for inflation, which is why the current maximum fine is $17.35 million.

Congress earlier this year agreed to hike maximum recall fines to $35 million. The new maximum fine will take effect next year.